Service clamp



Dec. 20, 1966 w. s. COREY 3,292,954

SERVICE CLAMP Filed April 20. 1965 /70 INVENTOR 62 60 w 62 W Ig-IAM 5.CORE) 55 I I 64 55 64 58 EDWARD D. OER/AN A rraeuays United StatesPatent 3,292,954 SERVICE CLAMP William 5. Corey, 10236 Mt. Gleason,Tujunga, Calif. 91042 Substituted for abandoned application Ser. No.259,006, Feb. 18, 1963. This application Apr. 20, 1965, Ser.

2 Claims. (Cl. 285-198) This invention pertains to new and improvedservice clamps. This application is a substitute for abandonedapplication, Serial No. 259,066, filed February 18, 1963, entitled,Service Clamp, showing William S. Corey as inventor.

As used herein, the term service clamp is employed to designateclamp-like devices which are secured to a pipe or conduit for thepurpose of enabling smaller pipes or conduits to be connected to thispipe or conduit. These devices are often referred to by a variety ofdifferent names such as tapping sleeves, utility service clamps orfittings, and others.

Devices which may be termed service clamps have been known and usedvirtually since the advent of plumbing of the type presently in use. Alarge number of different devices of this category have'been developed,and many of these devices have been satisfactorily employed. In spite ofthis there exists a need for new and improved service clamps. To beacceptable a new service clamp must differ from prior related devices inone or more different regards so as to constitute an improvement oversuch devices.

To be accetpable commercially a service clamp must be relativelyinexpensive to manufacture. It must also be comparatively simple inconstruction so as to avoid any unnecessary tendency toward breakage.Such a clamp should also be constructed in such manner as to be capableof being used without difliculty by comparatively unskilled labor uponpipes or conduits having a comparatively irregular or uneven surfaceconfiguration. Such a clamp must also be constructed so as to givesatisfactory performance over virtually an-indefinite period with fluidsat comparatively extreme pressures. Further, an acceptable service clampmust be built so as to use a minimum of material in order to decreaseits manufacturing cost as much as possible and in order to enable it tobe shipped at a comparatively nominal cost.

'Various objects of the present invention are to provide new andimproved service clamps having characteristics as are desired for thesedevices as set out in the preceding paragraph of this specification.Other objects of this invention will be apparent from a detailedconsideration of the remainder of this specification, the appendedclaims and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the use of a service clamp ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational View showing the use of this service clamp;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 4-4 ofFIG. l; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 55 of FIG. 1.

The accompanying drawing is primarily intended to clearly illustrate apresently preferred embodiment or form of this invention in such amanner as to enable those skilled in the pipe fitting art -to clearlyunderstand the nature of this invention. Such individuals will realizefrom a careful consideration of this drawing and of this specificationthat various changes of a routine engineering nature may be made in thestructure shown without de- 3,292,954 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 ice partingfrom the inventive features defined or summarized in the appendedclaims.

As an aid to understanding this invention it can be stated inessentially summary form that it concerns utility service clamps, eachof which includes a connecting part, a holding part, and a clampingpart. The connecting part in a clamp of this invention is formed so asto fit closely against the exterior of a pipe, holds a sealing memberand includes a cylindrical extension leading from within the interior ofthe sealing member to the exterior of the clamp. The holding part isadapted to be hooked onto the connecting part so as to extend around apipe and carries means which serve to force the clamping part against apipe into a sealed position with respect to the sealing member.

The various parts of a service clamp of the present invention indicatedin the preceding paragraph can be formed out of cast iron or othersimilar rigid materials such as invention out of an inert, rigid plasticsuch as a recently developed polyformaldehyde resin having propertieswhich are related to those of common metals and alloys used forstructural purposes and various other common plastics. From a carefulconsideration of the service clamp shown in the drawing and describedherein it will be apparent that this service clamp has been specificallydesigned so that it can be manufactured from such plastics, and that itsshape and configuration have been developed so as to permit it to bemanufactured from either a metal or a plastic material.

This invention is best more fully described with reference to theaccompanying drawing showing a service clamp 10 of the present inventionin use upon a conventional cylindrical pipe or conduit 12. This clamp 10includes a connecting part '14, a holding part 16 and a clamping part18. These parts are assembled with respect to the pipe 12 so that anelastomeric sealing ring 20 held by the connecting part 14 forms a sealaround a hole 22 in the pipe 12. This sealing ring 20 is preferably anelastomeric ring such as is commonly referred to as an O- ring which hasa circular cross-sectional configuration prior to its being installed inthe clamp 10.

The connecting part 14 includes a semi-cylindrical section 24 havingside edges 26 and ends 28. A cylindrical lateral section 30 is attachedto the section 24 at approximately the middle of this section 24 so asto extend from it in a radial manner. The section 30 carries a radialflange 34 used in connecting the clamp 10 to a lateral pipe (not shown)in a manner which is conventional in the plumbing industry. In theinterior of the section 24 around the entrance 36 to the lateral section30 there is located a smooth wall groove 38. This groove 38 holds thesealing ring 20 previously described during the use of the clamp 10.Along each of the side edges 26 there is located an edge flange 40defining an edge groove 42. The flanges 40 are of a hook-likeconfiguration, and the grooves 42 face the same general direction as thelateral section 30. A reinforcing web 44 extends between the flanges 40from the section 24 at each of the ends 28. Other webs 46 extend betweenthe section 30 and the webs 44 and the section 24. Further webs 48extend between the section 30 and the flanges 40 along the centersection 24.

The holding part 16 is of generally U-shaped configuration and includesa center section 50 having the appearance of a three-dimensional U. Thissection 50 has side edges 52 and ends 54. It is as long as the section24; the edges 52 are adapted to fit tightly againstthe edges 26. Whenthese edges are against one another hook-shaped side flanges 56 on thesection 50 are adapted to fit around the flanges 40 and the grooves 42so as to firmly hold the parts 14 and 16 against movement away from oneanother. The flanges 40 and 66 can be considered as mating flanges sincethey are of a complementary configuration enabling these two parts to beslid together.

Reinforcing webs 58 are located on the exterior of the section 50 so asto extend completely between the flanges 56 at the ends 54 and atdistances equally proportional along the length of the section 56. Thesewebs 58 provide added rigidity to the section 56. Two of-the webs 58 areinterrupted by enlarged bosses 60 which are provided with internallytapped cylindrical openings 62 leading through the section 50. Theseopenings 62 are located symmetrically along the length of the holdingpart 16 with respect to the lateral section 30 of the connecting part14. Each of them carries a half or threaded cap-screw 64 which projectsinto the interior of the holding part 16.

The clamping part 18 has the general configuration of a part of acylinder extending slightly less than 360 around the axis of thecylinder. It includes a center section 66 of this configuration andappearance having ends 68. This center section 66 normally lies withinthe section 50 of the holding part 16 so that its ends 68 are located ashort distance beyond the ends 54. In order to prevent the section 66from slipping past the ends 54 outwardly extending end flanges .70 maybe provided upon them. Bosses 72 may be provided on the outer surface ofthe center section 66 for the purpose of receiving the ends of thecap-screws 64 so as to enable these cap-screws to be tightened duringthe use of the clamp without deforming the center section 66.

During the use of the clamp 10 the connecting part 14 is first locatedagainst a pipe such as the pipe 12 with the sealing ring in position.Then the clamping part 18 is assembled within the holding part 16, andboth of these parts 14 and 16 are slid together so as to engage theflanges 40 and 56. At this time this assemblage can be moved withrespect to the hole 22 so that the entrance to the lateral section 30 isopposite this hole. The capscrews 64 can then be tightened down. Thisforces the clamping part 18 into engagement with the pipe 12 andsimultaneously causes a pull to be exerted through the holding part 16upon the connecting part 14 which results in the sealing ring 20 beingdeformed so as to form a seal. As this occurs the interior of thesection 24 is brought into engagement with the surface of the pipe 12.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this manner of use iscomparatively simple. Even an unskilled individual can use a serviceclamp as herein defined in this manner without difficulty. It will alsobe apparent from the aforegoing that the clamp 10 can be manufactured ata comparatively nominal cost, and that by virtue of the particularconstruction described this clamp normally will utilize comparativelylittle material. The various webs indicated in preceding portions ofthis specification enable comparatively great pressure to be applied byusing the cap-screws 64 without danger of breakage or deformation of theconnecting and holding parts 14 and 16.

From a careful consideration of the foregoing it will be apparent thatthe number of cap-screws used 'with a service clamp of this inventioncan be varied in accordance with engineering practice. Thus, if desired,only one of these cap-screws need be employed; where only one isemployed it should be located directly opposite the center of thelateral section 30 in order to achieve a balanced type of forcedistribution. Various other similar changes of an engineering nature maybe made in the service clamp shown in the drawing and herein describedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention as defined bythe appended claims.

The particular structure of center section 66 of clamping part 18 issuch that it becomes thinnerat the edges away from the bosses 72. As isillustrated in FIG. 4, the center section 66 is of crescent shape. It isdefined by cylindrical surfaces having the same radius which have theiraxes slightly spaced. The tips of this crescent shape, as best seen inFIG. 4, are cut oif somewhat less than a full diameter of the clampingpart so that the edges do not become too thin. Aside from providingadequate strength, it is seen that this structure provides someflexibility of center section 66 so that it can engage and clamp moresecurely a pipe 12 which is slightly off of theoretical diameter. Suchfiexure, even though slight, permits improved engagement of the clamppart 18 with a pipe 12.

I claim:

1. A service clamp for use with a cylindrical pipe which includes:

a connecting part, said connecting part including a semi-cylindricalcenter section having a substantially semi-cylindrical inner surface anda first axis adapted to fit over substantially its entire inner surfacein engagement with a pipe, edge flanges at the side edges of saidsemi-cylindrically center section extending substantially diametricallyand upward and extending axially the full length of said connectingpart;

a holding part having a center section of cross-sectional configurationhaving a substantially semi-cylindrical portion having a second axisparallel to and spaced from said first axis and edge flanges, each ofwhich edge flanges extends outward substantially diametrically to saidfirst axis, upward, inward and downward so that it interfits with anedge flange on said connecting part so as to prevent said holding andsaid connecting parts from moving away from one another;

a clamping part fitting within said center section of said holding part,said clamping part having a partially cylindrical internal surfacehaving a third axis, said clamping part being capable of bearing againsta pipe located between said connecting and said holding parts so thatsaid third axis lies with said first axis, said clamping part having awidth at right angles to said third axis almost equal to the diameterwithin the interior of said semi-cylindrical section,:

a sealing ring located within said groove, edge flanges at the sideedges of said semi-cylindrical center section extending substantiallydiametrically and upward and extending axially the full length of saidconnecting part;

a holding part having a center section of U-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration having a substantially semi-cylindrical portion having asecond axis parallel to and spaced from said first axis and edgeflanges, each of which edge flange extends outward substantiallydiametrically to said first axis, upward, inward and downward so that itinterfits with an edge flange on said connecting part so as to preventsaid holding and said connecting parts from moving away from oneanother; a clamping part fitting within said center section of saidholding parts, said clamping parts having a U-shaped partiallycylindrical internal surface having a third axis and a partiallycylindrical outer surface having a fourth axis, said third and fourthaxis being spaced from each other so that said clamping part is thinnerat its edges than at its center, said clamping part 5 being capable ofbearing against a pipe located between said connecting and said holdingparts so that said third axis lies with said first axis, said clampingpart having a width at right angles to said third axis almost equal tothe diameter of said surface on said connecting part; and

bolt means threaded on said holding part and extending into engagementwith said clamping part so as to be capable of applying pressure to saidclamping part in order to force said clamping part into engagement withsaid pipe, causing such pipe to deform said sealing ring in the order toform a seal therewith. r

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/ 1881 Wilson285-420 X 7/ 1898 Meserve 285197 1/ 1924 Gonder 285197 X 11/1929 Hooley285-420 X 11/1931 Skinner 285197 10/1943 'Scritchfield 285-197 X 3/1955Montgomery 285197 FOREIGN PATENTS 5/ 1953 France. 7/ 1958 Germany. 8/1963 Great Britain.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

D. W. AROLA, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SERVICE CLAMP FOR USE WITH A CYLINDRICAL PIPE WHICH INCLUDES: ACONNECTING PART, SAID CONNECTING PART INCLUDING A SEMI-CYLINDRICALCENTER SECTION HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SEMI-CYLINDRICAL INNER SURFACE ANDA FIRST AXIS ADAPTED TO FIT OVER SUBSTANTIALLY ITS ENTIRE INNER SURFACEIN ENGAGEMENT WITH A PIPE, EDGE FLANGES AT THE SIDE EDGES OF SAIDSEMI-CYLINDRICALLY CENTER SECTION EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY DIAMETRICALLYAND UPWARD AND EXTENDING AXIALLY THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID CONNECTINGPART; A HOLDING PART HAVING A CENTER SECTION OF U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTIONALCONFIGURATION HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SEMI-CYLINDRICAL PORTION HAVING ASECOND AXIS PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST AXIS AND EDGE FLANGESEACH OF WHICH EDGE FLANGES EXTENDS OUTWARD SUBSTANTIALLY DIAMETRICALLYTO SAID FIRST AXIS, UPWARD, INWARD AND DOWNWARD SO THAT IT INTERFITSWITH AN EDGE FLANGE ON SAID CONNECTING PART SO AS TO PREVENT SAIDHOLDING AND SAID CONNECTING PARTS FROM MOVING AWAY FROM SAID ANOTHER;